Digital Media Lending System and Method

ABSTRACT

A digital media lending system and computer implemented method is disclosed. The system includes a usage restriction system operable to apply usage restrictions to digital media items and a user interface arranged to receive a user input by a user requesting loan of a digital media item. The usage restriction system is arranged to apply usage restrictions to the requested digital media item in dependence on historic activities of the user.

This patent application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(a) of Great Britain Application Serial No. 1303945.8, filed Mar. 5,2013, entitled “Digital Media Lending System and Method,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for supportinglending of digital media and is particularly applicable for use inproviding a library with a mechanism to lend media such as electronicbooks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a patron wants to a borrow a book or periodical he or she visits alibrary, finds the physical media in question and goes through acheck-out procedure to take it home to read and subsequently return.

Electronic access to digital material is available at some libraries.Sometimes, the patron is required to view the digital material from anetwork computer within a library, much in the way that archivedmaterial used to have been viewed for many years on microfiche and thelike.

While it is currently possible for libraries to lend electronic books(or ‘eBooks’) to patrons via a website, accessible internally and/orexternally of the physical library, this process can be complicated forpeople who are not computer savvy (requiring various software to bedownloaded and installed).

Currently there are a number of systems that allow the libraries to loaneBooks to patrons. These systems may be in-library (typically throughthe use of a dedicated browsing kiosk) or online accessible from thepatron's home or mobile device. However, there exists a level of anxietyfrom eBook publishers, who are nervous that allowing patrons to easilyrent books at home will ultimately damage revenues for both them andtheir retail partners.

Currently, libraries must purchase eBooks using the same rental modelapplied to physical books—i.e. one eBook for each loan. This means thatonce an eBook is loaned to one person it is not available to anyone elseuntil the loan expires. This can cause confusion for patrons who can seetitles online but are not able to borrow them.

Particularly as more and more publications are published onlyelectronically, it is highly desirable for libraries to offer lending ofeBooks and similar electronic media.

To combat the above fear, publishers currently either a) charge a hugepremium to cover loss of sales (often 200-300% above physical bookpricing) or, more commonly, b) do not make titles available to thelibrary at all.

Libraries not only resent the inability to loan books to their patrons,but equally often cannot afford the high charges imposed through the useof current eBook lending models.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided adigital media lending system comprising:

a usage restriction system operable to apply usage restrictions todigital media items; and

a user interface arranged to receive a user input by a user requestingloan of a digital media item, wherein the usage restriction system isarranged to apply usage restrictions to the requested digital media itemin dependence on historic activities of the user.

The digital media lending system may further comprise a data repositoryencoding data on historic activities of a user, the usage restrictionsystem being arranged to apply said usage restrictions in dependence ondata in said repository on the user.

The data repository may comprise a library management system encodingdata on a user's physical and digital media loan activities over time.

Historic activities of the user may include one or more of:

visiting the library; logging on to the library's website; borrowingphysical titles from the library; attending a class at the library;downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles; entering apublisher-run competition; using a self-service machine/kiosk in thelibrary; using in-library PC facilities; and paying bills using thesystems in the library.

At least selected ones of the digital media items may be stored remotelyof the digital media lending system, the digital media lending systembeing arranged to cause a requested digital media item that is storedremotely to have said usage restrictions applied and to be communicatedto the user.

The digital media lending system may be arranged to retrieve a requestedremotely stored digital media item for application of the usagerestrictions by the usage restriction system prior to communication tothe user.

The usage restriction system may be arranged to communicate said usagerestrictions to a remote source for application to the requested digitalmedia item.

The usage restrictions may include one or more selected from a setincluding:

requiring direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of the digitalmedia lending system to download the digital media item; prohibitdownloading from outside the premises of a library providing the digitalmedia lending system; expiring loans after a predetermined period;interleaving adverts in the digital media item.

The digital media lending system may be arranged to encode the usagerestrictions within one of: the digital media item; the content of thedigital media item; and a file associated with the digital media item,the file being operable to cause application of the usage restrictionsin the user's e-reader device.

The historic activities of the user may be used to compute a score, thedigital media lending system being arranged to cause the score to decayover time, wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to apply theusage restrictions in dependence on the user's score.

The digital media lending system may further comprise a user interfacearranged to display an illustration of current and possible usagerestrictions to the user.

The user interface may include an illustration of a barometer, theuser's progression along the barometer reflecting the user's score.

The usage restriction system may be arranged to modify the severity ofusage restrictions applied in dependence on the user's score.

The usage restrictions may include one or more of:

requiring a direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of thedigital media lending system to download the digital media item, theusage restriction being modified by varying a the frequency of loanitems out of overall loaned digital media items for which a directconnection is required;

allowing extension of loans, the usage restriction being modified byvarying the number of extensions permitted;

loan period, the usage restriction being modified by varying the loanperiod;

number of adverts, the usage restriction being modified by varying thenumber of adverts; and

concurrent loans, the usage restriction being modified by varying thenumber of concurrent loans.

In a preferred embodiment, a self-service kiosk may include or interfacewith the above described digital media lending system, the self-servicekiosk including a communication interface for communicating a loaneddigital media item to a user's e-reader. In another embodiment, thedigital media lending system may be part of, or operate through, awebsite. The website may be accessible via the world-wide-web or it maybe accessible only to physical visitors to a library or other facility.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer implemented method of lending digital media items comprising:

monitoring predetermined activity types of users and recording data onsaid monitored activities in a data repository;

receiving, at a user interface, a user input by a user requesting loanof a digital media item;

prior to lending the digital media item to the user, applying usagerestrictions to the digital media item in dependence on historicactivities of the user in said data repository.

The data repository may comprise a library system encoding data on auser's physical and digital media loan activities over time, thepredetermined activity types include one or more of:

visiting the library; logging on to the library's website; borrowingphysical titles from the library; attending a class at the library;downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles; entering apublisher-run competition; using a self-service machine/kiosk in thelibrary; using in-library PC facilities; and paying bills using thesystems in the library.

The usage restrictions may include one or more selected from a setincluding:

requiring direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal of the digitalmedia lending system to download the digital media item; prohibitdownloading from outside the premises of a library providing the digitalmedia lending system; expiring loans after a predetermined period;interleaving adverts in the digital media item.

The method may further comprise a user interface arranged to display anillustration of current and possible usage restrictions to the user.

The method may further comprise:

computing a score from the historic activities of the user; and

modifying the severity of usage restrictions applied in dependence onthe user's score.

In one embodiment, a digital media lending system comprises a digitalmedia loan system arranged to apply usage restrictions to a digitalmedia item to be loaned in dependence on a monitored history of the userseeking the loan, wherein the usage restrictions are arranged to causelimitations in the use of the digital media item by the user.Preferably, the usage restrictions are selected from a scale ofrestrictions, the position of the scale being dependent on activitiesover time by said user in said monitored history.

In one embodiment, a system is arranged to record frequencies of one ormore activities performed by a patron in person or by his or herrepresentative at a library. A check-out terminal such as a kiosk or anonline system such as a web access portal is arranged to apply usagerestrictions to digital media lent to the patron in dependence on therecorded frequencies of activities.

The check-out terminal can optionally link to library databases and/or alocal or remote eBook aggregation platform to seamlessly add the loan tothe patron account and cause download of the e-content to the patron'sdevice.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide systems and methodsin which eBook material access is controlled so as to be accessible tousers meeting predetermined criteria. For example, the system may bearranged to allow access only to ‘true’ library users—i.e. those thatwould also, or previously, visit and rent physical book material fromthe library. In one embodiment, a ‘convenience barometer’ is implemented(either logically by components of the libraries' system or logicallyand visually via a user interface). In one example, a system tracks thein person physical usage behaviour of a patron in the library and awardsthem a ‘score’ based on frequency of visit and/or lending physical booksand other media that allows them to rent various levels of eBooks.

Preferred embodiments monitor library patron activities in order to givethem a rating of how effective as user they are and rewards “effective”patrons by reducing inconvenience in eBook borrowing, for exampleincreasing number allowed to borrow, loan time, allowing home downloads,or removing adverts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now by described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of aspects of a user interface according toone embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating compilation of an eBookaccording to usage attributes according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating components of a system 10 forlending electronic media items to a visitor of a library.

The system 10 includes a check-out terminal 20 and a data repository 30.

The data repository 30 encodes one or more versions of eBooks asdiscussed in more detail below. The system 10 also includes a userdatabase 40 having a record for each registered user.

The check-out terminal 20 is installed at the library and is used tocheck-out books and other media so that the patron may take them home toread/consume. Check-out terminals vary in form factor and in themechanism used to check out books. They can scan barcodes, RFID tags orother identifiers on items using bar code readers, RFID tag readers, oruse other technology that is configured to identify the items beingpresented. Each item presented is associated (for instance, in digitalmemory or a database) with the patron's account with the library andloans of the books may be subject to limits on total number of items tobe lent to an individual, whether there are items overdue for return,whether fines imposed for late returns have been paid etc.

More generally, the functions of the terminal 20 are implemented by aprocessor configured by code executing in the processor. The code can bearranged into modules that correspond to the various functions.

The check-out terminal 20 may be a self-service type terminal or it maybe operated by a member of the library staff. As the patron checks outbooks and other physical media, the loan is recorded against his or heraccount in the user database 40. Additionally, an eBook access score isincremented in the database 40 as a representation of usage of thephysical library facilities.

It will be appreciated that various ways of managing and incrementingthe score can be envisaged. Frequencies of individual acts could berecorded separately and each awarded a value or the activitiesthemselves may be ignored and just rated to determine a value which isadded to a counter for the user. Details of possible scored activitiesare discussed below.

It will be appreciated that the eBook access score could be affected bysystems other than check-out terminals such as staff stations, accessgates (where visits to the facilities are controlled and a user mustpresent credentials to enter, for example), existing library systems anddatabases such as the Integrated Library System/Library ManagementSystem (which may be the user database 40 or may be a separate system).

The check-out terminal 20, in addition to allowing checking outconventional books and other items to a patron, includes a display 21 inwhich a user interface is displayed. Optionally, the check-out terminal20 includes a user interface unit 22 which may be a keyboard,touchscreen or the like. An example of the user interface is illustratedin FIG. 2.

Upon accessing the check-out terminal 20 and identifying themselves, apatron provides information (such as a username, barcoded or RFID taggedmembership card) from which the check-out terminal 20 can determine thepatron's account.

Should the patron request to borrow an eBook, for example by using theuser interface unit 22, the check-out terminal accesses the userdatabase 40 to retrieve data on the patron and, in particular, datadefining the eBook access score which is translated into a visualrepresentation and displayed on-screen on the display 21. An examplevisual representation is shown in FIG. 2, although it will beappreciated that other representations could be used such as illuminatedlights, vertical scales, series' of ticks, check boxes or the like.

The visual representation is linked to one or more eBook attributes thatare applied by the system 10 when the patron borrows an eBook as isdiscussed in detail below.

The patron selects the eBook of interest, for example using the display21 and user interface unit 22, and the check-out terminal 20 accessesthe data repository 30 to retrieve the eBook. The attributes are appliedto the eBook as discussed below and the eBook is then provided to thepatron.

For example, the check-out terminal 20 may cause the eBook to becommunicated to a digital media reader device 50 of the patron or sentto their online account for download at a later time, perhaps in theirown home.

In a preferred embodiment, the check-out terminal (also known as akiosk) 20 includes a communications module 23 for communicating with thedigital media reader device 50 of the patron. The communications module23 may include a cable and connector to interface to the digital mediareader device 50 such as by a USB type connection. Alternatively or inaddition, the communications module 23 may include a wirelesstransceiver for wirelessly communicating with the digital media readerdevice 50 of the patron, by protocols and mechanisms such as WiFi,BlueTooth or the like. In another alternative, the communications module23 may include a wired network connection to a network via which thedigital media reader device 50 can be reached.

In one embodiment, the communications module 23 interfaces the check-outterminal 20 with a library-wide wireless network, to which the patron'sdigital media reading device may be given access. In this embodiment,when the eBook is to be communicated to the digital media reader device50 of the patron, it is pushed (such as with the communications moduleinitiating a connection) to the digital media reader device 50 over thenetwork or it may be indicated as being available for download to thedigital media reader device 50 when the device 50 next connects to thenetwork or next checks for downloads. Optionally, the network may extendbeyond the physical boundaries of the library and may be remotelyaccessible by the patron and/or patron device 50.

In one embodiment, power of the wireless communication system for thecommunications module 23 is controlled or set such that it cancommunicate only with digital media reader devices 50 that are in thelocal proximity (approximately 0-5 m) of the library perimeter or of thecheck-out terminal 20.

The library may require the patron's digital media reading device 50 tobe registered in order to receive loaned eBooks (in which case, thedigitally readable version of the item may include a license,cryptographic key or similar that prevents devices other than thatregistered from reading/consuming the item).

As part of the checkout process, a database of the library holding dataon items loaned to the patron is updated to reflect the loaned digitallyreadable media item and optionally limit the number of loaned digitallyreadable media items to the patron to a predetermined number. Abackground process is also preferably operated by the library to clearthe loan records for digitally readable media items once the loan periodhas expired.

In an alternate embodiment, a patron instead of connecting his or hereBook reading device to the check-out terminal 20, may instead log on toa remote system in order to borrow and download an eBook remotely, suchas from home. In such an embodiment, once the loan of the eBook has beenapproved by the remote system, the patron can download the eBookimmediately or alternatively have the eBook delivered or made availableto an online account for download later.

At least aspects of the illustrative embodiments can take the form of acomputer program product accessible from a non-transitorycomputer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code foruse by, or in connection with, a computer or any instruction executionsystem. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable orcomputer readable medium can be any non-transitory recordable-typetangible apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, ortransport the program for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device.

It will be appreciated that the principles of the present inventioncould be applied to other media and form factors with electronicversions of magazines, CD's, DVDs and the like being made available in asimilar manner.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

FIG. 2 provides an illustration of one possible implementation. Patronswould all start with the barometer empty (left-hand side). As theyprogress along the scale, lending attributes associated with eBooks (andpossibly other loans) may be changed, activated or deactivated. Forexample, with the barometer empty, attributes may:

-   -   require direct connection of an e-reader to download an eBook;    -   prohibit download from home;    -   expire loans after 1 week;    -   Interleave adverts every 1 page

As the patron progresses along the scale, attributes may be changed torelax the lending conditions, for example:

-   -   only requiring direct connection every n loans (and Wifi or home        loan at other times);    -   allowing extension of loans;    -   setting longer loan periods;    -   reducing number of adverts;    -   allowing multiple concurrent loans.

The far-right of the scale (barometer full) in the illustratedembodiment means that they can now download up to 4 titles, with minimaladverts and each loan expires after 4 weeks.

Patrons using the library are awarded points for each transaction theyperform in the library or that is agreed between the library and bookpublishers. Each point moves the scale from the left to theright—decreasing their inconvenience. Common actions that would ‘award’point may include (amongst others):

-   -   Borrowing physical titles from the library;    -   Attending a class at the library;    -   Downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles;    -   Entering a publisher-run competition;    -   Using a self-service machine/kiosk in the library;    -   Using in-library PC facilities;    -   Paying bills using the systems in the library.

In order to make sure that patrons don't simply join the library andborrow some items in order to gain access to digital e-content, thebarometer scale may either:

a) reset to left after a pre-defined period of time, or

b) begin to fall on a daily basis back to the zero position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating compilation of an eBooksubject to usage attributes.

In one embodiment, the eBook is stored in the data repository 30 in aprecompiled state. Upon a patron requesting loan of the eBook, theprecompiled eBook 100 is obtained from the data repository combined inan eBook data file 150 with metadata 110 defining, for example, usagerestrictions such as expiry date, account to which the eBook is beingloaned, origin (the library), authentication data (such as acryptographic hash of other data in the metadata to prevent tampering).Data defining advertisements 120 and metadata 125 defining theirplacement in the eBook is also added to the eBook data file 150(optionally it may be added to and become part of the actual precompiledeBook 100).

The eBook data file 150 is then ready for loan and disseminated to thepatron in whatever manner is selected and permitted by the attributes.

It is to be appreciated that certain embodiments of the invention asdiscussed above may be incorporated as code (e.g., a software algorithmor program) residing in firmware and/or on computer useable mediumhaving control logic for enabling execution on a computer system havinga computer processor. Such a computer system typically includes memorystorage configured to provide output from execution of the code whichconfigures a processor in accordance with the execution. The code can bearranged as firmware or software, and can be organized as a set ofmodules such as discrete code modules, function calls, procedure callsor objects in an object-oriented programming environment. If implementedusing modules, the code can comprise a single module or a plurality ofmodules that operate in cooperation with one another.

Optional embodiments of the invention can be understood as including theparts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein,individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or moreof the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers arementioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which theinvention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporatedherein as if individually set forth.

Although illustrated embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions,and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the present invention which is defined by the recitationsin the claims below and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital media lending system, comprising: ausage restriction system operable to apply usage restrictions to digitalmedia items; and a user interface arranged to receive a user input by auser via a user input device requesting loan of a digital media item,wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to apply usagerestrictions to the requested digital media item in dependence onhistoric activities of the user.
 2. The digital media lending system ofclaim 1, further comprising a data repository encoding data on historicactivities of a user, the usage restriction system being arranged toapply said usage restrictions in dependence on data in said repositoryon the user.
 3. The digital media lending system of claim 2, wherein thedata repository comprises a library management system encoding data on auser's physical and digital media loan activities over time.
 4. Thedigital media lending system of claim 3, wherein historic activities ofthe user include one or more of: visiting the library; logging on to thelibrary's website; borrowing physical titles from the library; attendinga class at the library; downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBooktitles; entering a publisher-run competition; using a self-servicemachine/kiosk in the library; using in-library PC facilities; and payingbills using the systems in the library.
 5. The digital media lendingsystem of claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of the digital mediaitems are stored remotely of the digital media lending system, thedigital media lending system being arranged to cause a requested digitalmedia item that is stored remotely to have said usage restrictionsapplied and to be communicated to the user.
 6. The digital media lendingsystem of claim 6, wherein the digital media lending system is arrangedto retrieve a requested remotely stored digital media item forapplication of the usage restrictions by the usage restriction systemprior to communication to the user.
 7. The digital media lending systemof claim 1, wherein the usage restriction system is arranged tocommunicate said usage restrictions to a remote source for applicationto the requested digital media item.
 8. The digital media lending systemof claim 1, wherein said usage restrictions include one or more selectedfrom a set including: requiring direct connection of an e-reader to aterminal of the digital media lending system to download the digitalmedia item; prohibit downloading from outside the premises of a libraryproviding the digital media lending system; expiring loans after apredetermined period; interleaving adverts in the digital media item. 9.The digital media lending system of claim 1, wherein the digital medialending system is arranged to encode the usage restrictions within oneof: the digital media item; the content of the digital media item; and afile associated with the digital media item, the file being operable tocause application of the usage restrictions in the user's e-readerdevice.
 10. The digital media lending system of claim 1, wherein thehistoric activities of the user are used to compute a score, the digitalmedia lending system being arranged to cause the score to decay overtime, wherein the usage restriction system is arranged to apply theusage restrictions in dependence on the user's score.
 11. The digitalmedia lending system of claim 10, further comprising a user interfacearranged to display an illustration of current and possible usagerestrictions to the user.
 12. The digital media lending system of claim11, wherein the user interface includes an illustration of a barometer,the user's progression along the barometer reflecting the user's score.13. The digital media lending system of claim 10, wherein the usagerestriction system is arranged to modify the severity of usagerestrictions applied in dependence on the user's score.
 14. The digitalmedia lending system of claim 13, wherein the usage restrictions includeone or more of: requiring a direct connection of an e-reader to aterminal of the digital media lending system to download the digitalmedia item, the usage restriction being modified by varying a thefrequency of loan items out of overall loaned digital media items forwhich a direct connection is required; allowing extension of loans, theusage restriction being modified by varying the number of extensionspermitted; loan period, the usage restriction being modified by varyingthe loan period; number of adverts, the usage restriction being modifiedby varying the number of adverts; and concurrent loans, the usagerestriction being modified by varying the number of concurrent loans.15. A self-service kiosk comprising a user interface, a communicationinterface and a processor configured to execute computer program code tofor providing a digital media lending system, the computer program codeincluding: computer program code configured to receive a user input by auser via the user interface requesting loan of a digital media item;computer program code configured to apply a usage restriction to therequested digital media items in dependence on historic activities ofthe user; and computer program code to cause communication of therequested digital media item having the usage restriction via thecommunication interface to the user's e-reader.
 16. A computerimplemented method of lending digital media items, comprising:monitoring predetermined activity types of users and recording data onsaid monitored activities in a data repository; receiving, at a userinterface, a user input by a user requesting loan of a digital mediaitem; prior to lending the digital media item to the user, applyingusage restrictions to the digital media item in dependence on historicactivities of the user in said data repository.
 17. The computerimplemented method of claim 16, wherein the data repository comprises alibrary system encoding data on a user's physical and digital media loanactivities over time, the predetermined activity types include one ormore of: visiting the library; logging on to the library's website;borrowing physical titles from the library; attending a class at thelibrary; downloading ‘publisher recommended’ eBook titles; entering apublisher-run competition; using a self-service machine/kiosk in thelibrary; using in-library PC facilities; and paying bills using thesystems in the library.
 18. The computer implemented method of claim 16,wherein said usage restrictions include one or more selected from a setincluding: requiring direct connection of an e-reader to a terminal ofthe digital media lending system to download the digital media item;prohibit downloading from outside the premises of a library providingthe digital media lending system; expiring loans after a predeterminedperiod; and interleaving adverts in the digital media item.
 19. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 18, further comprising a userinterface arranged to display an illustration of current and possibleusage restrictions to the user.
 20. The computer implemented method ofclaim 17, further comprising: computing a score from the historicactivities of the user; and modifying the severity of usage restrictionsapplied in dependence on the user's score.